Prestatyn’s Nova parkrun proved popular again with Conwy tour members...plus other results

By Don Hale don hale blog


*Pictured above - Conwy runners and volunteers at the Nova event.

Prestatyn’s Nova parkrun proved popular again with Conwy tour members...plus other results round-up.

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Gwyn Williams at Nova and Mike Finnie at Penrhyn.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com



*Conwy parkrunners on tour at Nova (above l-r): Darren Dentith, Don Hale, Liz Evans and John Stallard.

The Nova parkrun at Prestatyn was one of the best attended local parkruns last Saturday morning with 285 entrants including local club athlete Tom Carter, who was the first finisher with a new PB in 17 minutes and 15 seconds, with the first three finishers all recording new course PBs.

Tom however was pushed all the way by rival Matthew Baker, and he was just 4 seconds adrift, with JM11-14 junior Seth Williams 3rd in 19.00. *The first female was SW20 athlete Eve Manifold (23rd), with a PB in 21.23, with Abbey Young 2nd, (29th), with a new PB in 21.58, whilst teenager Erin Thinas (34th), finished in 22.15 on her debut.

Some other local results at Nova included: Youngster Josh Mottram (Colwyn Bay AC), 17th with a PB in 20.58, Richard Scamans (NWRRC), 22nd with a new PB in 21.20, Darren Dentith 30th in 22.01, Ian Taylor (Colwyn Bay AC), 40th in 22.59, Dave Munday (Airey Airways) 42nd in 23.05, Liz Evans (GOG Triathlon), on her course debut recorded a superb time of 25.19, and she also won her VW70 age cat; whilst master veteran Don Hale (NWRRC), returned to action again following injury in 26.41, and he was 2nd in his VM70 cat, with fellow Road Runner Steve Mason and his dog Coco acting as course sweepers in 61.12.

*Praise was given to the run director and to all the volunteers and marshals. All the other results from Nova can be found on this link: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/novaprestatyn/results/latestresults/

 

Conwy parkrun director Gwyn Williams reports on his visit to Nova parkrun and met many tour members...


For me, today’s parkrun of choice was Nova Prestatyn parkrun . A firm favourite with you, the Conwy tourists since our pause. I knew that there would be loads from Conwy there when I got out of the car and instantly bumped into Ian Taylor and Josh Mottram.
I’d only ran at Nova previously once before, about 4 years ago on a slightly different course, so was keen to give the ‘new’ course a try. I’m sure most of you have already been but what a great and quick coastal parkrun with loads of supportive and encouraging volunteers cheering everyone one. 
The event has grown considerably since my last visit with 285 finishers today, slightly down on the 3 record breaking weekends they’ve had in recent weeks. Dave and team have done a wonderful job there, having previously been responsible for the Bodelwyddan Castle parkrun which sadly came to an end when the Castle closed, but it’s great to see Nova Prestatyn becoming ever more popular and going from strength to strength.
It was great to see faces from Conwy parkrun past there volunteering with Rachel Fleming on finish tokens and Jan Carfoot barcode scanning (sorry I missed you Jan), both regular participants and valued volunteers for many years at Conwy. Nice also to see Conwy regular Robert Fryer continuing his volunteering sequence at Nova on the stopwatch.

 

Pictured above (*left), Conwy run director Gwyn Williams with his fellow Nova run director Martin at last Saturday's event, and (*above right), Colwyn Bay athletes Ian Taylor and Josh Mottram at the Prestatyn event.

Had a quick chat with Martin, today’s run director about the popularity of the course and how the volunteers have done a great job adapting to coping with big numbers. Seems like they’re taking it all in their stride. 

It was nice also to see Don Hale back parkrunning after his nasty fall at Penrhyn a couple of weeks ago. We parkrunners are a hardy bunch! Sorry if I didn’t catch you for a photo, there were so many from Conwy there it was difficult to get everyone.

Anyway, thanks Martin and team, really enjoyed my run today and managed to clock my highest ever age graded score. A great, quick, friendly course. 



*The start (*above) at last Saturday's Penrhyn Castle parkrun.

*Penrhyn: There was another good turn-out of 222 finishers at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday, but at the time of writing the identity of the 1st finisher remained unknown, but in 2nd place was Rhodri Owen in 16.11, with Adam Jones 3rd in 16.22. *The 1st female finisher was Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers), with a new course PB of 19.04 in 12th place overall, with Katie Reynolds (Edinburgh University AC), 2nd (13th), with a new PB of 19.30, and Laura Mckenzie (Betsi Runaways), finished 3rd (44th) in 23.41.

*Some other local Conwy results at Penrhyn included: Harry Driscoll (Meirionnydd RC) with a new PB in 18.16, and master veteran Mike Hayton (NWRRC), finished 115th and knocked over a minute off his previous time to record a new course PB in 28.40, whilst GOG Triathlon members included: Aled Hughes 5th with a PB of 17.57, Steve Owen 19th, with a PB in 20.25, Andy Jones 26th in 21.16, Andy Brazier 37th in 22.56, and Merf Jones 63rd with another PB in 25.23.


 

*Anna Drinkwater (*above left) from Eryri Harriers was the first female finisher at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun, and (*centre), Harry Driscoll, from Meirionnydd RC, finished 6th with a new course PB, with (*right), John Hatton, who was on call again at Penrhyn with his popular volunteering duties.

Some other Conwy tour results: *Peter Johnson took part in the Henley Wood parkrun near Oswestry finished well in 28.42, whilst identical twins Amanda and Karen Durber ran the course together in the Greenfield Valley parkrun, and they both crossed the line in 29.41. Mike Pemberton also recorded a good time of 24.53 at the Old Railway trail parkrun at Llangollen, and Hannah Griffith made her debut at the Monsall Trail parkrun in Derbyshire in 25.49, and she won her VW50 age cat. Mal Preece performed well in the Burgess Park parkrun, which was his first parkrun of 2025 ahead of his London Marathon race, and he was pleased with 22.01 and he finished 3rd in his VW60 age cat. 



*Identical twins Karen and Amanda Durber (*above left), ran at the Greenfield Valley parkrun, and (*above right), Mal Preece performed well at Burgess Park.


*Newborough: The 1st finisher at the Newborough Forest parkrun amongst the 146 finishers was John Davies (Denbigh Harriers) with a new course PB in 19.29, and Alun Brown (GOG Triathlon), was 2nd on his debut in 19.42, with William Elgan Jones claiming the 3rd spot in 20.59. *The 1st female finisher was Felicity Elliott (14th) in 23.27, with Ellen Baugh (Denbigh Harriers), a close 2nd, with a new PB in 23.32 (15th), and Katherine Burton (Chester Tri Club), 3rd on her course debut in 23.40. 




 

 

Comments

  1. MikeApril 28, 2025 at 3:11 AM

    Thanks Don, a great write up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousApril 28, 2025 at 6:23 AM

      Enjoy reading the reports from various parkruns in the area. Well done everybody.

      Delete

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